Improvement in knitting-machines



' 7 Sheets-Sheet L u W.H. ABEL.'

" wam THM/AD KNITTING LOOM.

` `lamented July 19,1870.v

7 Sheets-Sheet 5.

\ `WHJABBL j WEFT THREAD KNITTING LOOM.; 10.105,531 1 v PatentedJuly 19, 1870.

" 7 sheets-sheet e.

` WH, ABEL. 4 f WEET THREAD KNITTING LOOM Na105,537', Patented July 19,. 1870.

as the needles passed through the oldloops, and prevent the formation or" new loops.,

in the various modes or methods known lo ine flor cerrying ont my invention' employ the latel-gneiflls on or in combination with the welbthread guides, particularly on this machine, wherein the third rise el the needles oceors before they' reecli the. guides A, which., in some-of the common circuler-knitting rnechines, serve the .sa-nie purpose by being set inthe right position end place against the periphery of the rotating cylinder, and the ed vencing endreeeding needlest It is not elweys necessary that the weite-bread guides, or even the werp or looping thread guides, should be in close proximity with the needles, es inv Figs. l, 2, 3, and e. These may all he arranged et a distance, and still guide their threads correctly to or between the needles; but the latclrgnerds should be applied in coinbination with the weft-thread guides, and so close to the needles-as to serve the purpose described. 1n order to actua-te the advancing and receding slides D, eind the needles, or to open, divide, or separotethe latter, es in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, I employ a. disk or wheel, U, of common form, having deep radial slots e, et suitable distances apart to receive alternate raised and rising needles, and notched o1 forked ends hr teeth oz., to engage with vrill the other needles and carry them outward, while all the divided needles are still rising or advancing, thereby providing or producin'gvai pelli or passage for the weft-'thread a between the divided Idnd advancing needles which inolose the weft-thread between them as they fullylrise and leere the slotted wheels. lnclosed between the raised needles, these weftthresds :ire cach carried forward beneath the spirally-sct fins or wings of a. presser-wheel, E, set at suchl an ongle, ns shown, that the fins or wings e when passing between the needles l.ind downward, shall be on e line with the letter and their line of motion, and press the weltthread down onto the old loops, (which are below the latclies,) and nerly under or opposite the looping'thread guide A, and the inner thread-passage e through the Here the looping-thread is guided into contact with and outside of the needles, end the slides and needles ore carried downward., their heads below the inner edge m of the rotating cylinder and between the partitions el, and this operation forms the new loops under the hooks of the needles, throws up the -lefches and secures the looping-thread, end draws or throws thcelternate old loops over the wetttlireed and over the newly=formed loops, which become the old loops for successively inclosing the weft-thread, andfor the continuous formation of this warp and weftfebric.

Two, three, or nioreoi the dividing-wheels C and presser-wheels E, and weft and werp guides A and B, ere-arranged at suitable die tonces-apart on large machines, in the same.

or in n similnr manner es shown in Figs. l, 2, 3, .end in numbers proportionate to .the

din-meter of the cylinder and the number ofy slides' and needles, two of earch of the. abovelminded. devices being clearly shown. in the dre-WingisL ln the formation of the 'fabric herein shown and described, and in reference to Fig. 13, it will be observed that the weiltlireed docs not pass over one loop :ind under the next, but directly over one loop, C., throng-'n the two next inverted loops 7'-, und forward of another like the first, which, it partly conceals thence over a loop, 6, and through two others, 7, as before, end so on. l sometimes form. f.. fabric by passing the Weftthreed over soecessive loops-wm, for exemple, the weft-threads indicated by al, e2, end a3 all pass over loops in tile seine row, series, or vrele, and this is dono in one wey by setting elll the dividingv wheels C on the same needles. This produces `what I call the basket-weave, which in eppearnnoe is like common plein woven cloth; and if the werp or looping thread is white dnd the weft-thread black, brown', or other darli sheds, the cloth will appear to be in very snr/,ill checks or squares,each thread or threads thrown up to the surface forming, by the shade or color, n. check of sxnnll dimensions.

The book or outside of the cloth will be the color or shade of the worp or looping thread. I sometimes formthe fabric by passingpthe weft-thread over alternate loops-ns,for ox ample, first the thread a3 over loops in one row, and then that indicated by e* over loops in the next row or wdleA This will produce o change in the ligure from n square to e. dia.- lnond in form, and this is done in one way by setting the wheels C on alternato needles. This is what I cell the diemondweave, for, instead of its linving the appearance of checks. or squares, it shows an oblique series of tignres, each in the form ol a diamond or rhorn' bus. A greet varietygof other gnres con he produced bythe two simple changesl above described, and by changing either er both the werp and looping threads, and substituting those of' other and different colors or shades.

'Elie presser-wheels E, before described, are old devices; hnt l. have combined rhein eocli with n fully raised series of reciprocating letehed needles and with a thread-guide as dcsoribed, whereby the wei'tthredd is introduced between the. divided end risiugneedles by means of a thread-guide and e. presser-wheel unaided by any other device. The dividingwheels and the presser-wheels ere arranged on appropriate studs-fthe former vertical and the latter eet at on ungle--ns shown, und both,

i Orell, properly set and secured to the top of circular disk or plnte A2, arranged on the lower end of a centrally-depending stud, A, a. little belowl the top and within the cylinder, leaving ample room for the fabric to pass between the latterand the outer odge of the pleteu The upper end of the stud ie scented smeer Gqallf as elearlyshown uitligs. 1,12,

i is stationaryand couned tothe bed-plateffl by intese-forteed.` braceeG; These braces are `1 i, secured` to the hedplate hy' holte f, which paas #through the i'eetlbl, and screw the'plate andfto `the lcanecylinder by screws'or screw lblolts f" andfz. The latter or upperoneshoid the needles, are operated or causedto advance "grooved" cylinder "G2, andfby the operating more horizontal series "of Vpartially-raised nee` i "dles, and one` ormoresimilarseries of fully-vf fthe needles,fa`nd for the introduction of weft` #thread between thethusadivid d and rising @beneath tbelinclines" E iniFig. and` beneath l he inclined Aedges E2 oi"tlxeeams .Aand their niet treten s@ er e steeper staminees nd f'alstenedtothearnrlt` of a l i'aeh bracket, ,i which is generally bolted'to thbouter cyl Retierringnto Figs. 1,2, Sgarbi 4 etti-Jiedrawn gs, the outer-cylinder G, in this particular achine, is the cam-cylinder, or that whichcon" ins the camgrooveH, and this cans-cylinder e upper and lower portionsf'f and@ apart, the upper `portion in position above the wer portion, andpreserveth'e perfect formi t' the `ce1x1-"groove H.. f lhis'` kcani-groove,reeives the butts d ofthe slides D, which, with ndy recede by the rotary motionfot theiun'er utts,ja's in the common circular-knitting ma! hiue,\except that the .cam-groove in this fmahine has-three rises or rising inclinesfor oper` ting thegslides and the needles, and lower` ndfupper groove Hfoperatingin connection ith the butts d of the slides, to continuously and automatically forinor organize one, oi

asedneedl'esyon which `to applydviding'- wheels C and lpresser-wheels 1E, for dividing x leedlesby means of a 'thread-'guide anda:

lesser-wheel, uuaided"by` anyv other deviner i The irstrise,fi,`oeour's wherethe butts passi and leavethe lowerends'ofthe adjusting-cams `Ai", the second rise, k, a little farther onward l t t i. l and intothe range of thedividin g-wheels, and

" "the thirdprise, l, where theneedles are. in conl tactwith and as they are passing and leaving j these wheels, and while they aredividing or opening,and. dividedgor opened, and `receiving and inelosing the weittbreuds between them.

i i At section of the fullygraised needles', eov I ng a space from the point `of leaving each i i liriding-wheelto a' point beyondeach press ,i rwheel, and the farther `side ordedge of each i loopingthread guide, remain thus fully raised `to allow the nwheels 'E topress the weftthreads down ontothe old loops, and` preparatory to drawing the alternate"lastanalned loops over g `the,weft-threads, andere!" the newly-formed; loops. These newloops `are"`iall formed by a sudden depression of'. the' needles. after pass-'g ing the guides A, caused bythe drawing downi "[wardot'the slides by their` buttsd passing lt uwer ends g,`and these/calmiAu are adjustaj le verticallytogive a greater or lessdepres'y on of the slides and `the:needleidend,thereby 4teaser 'The rst hereinabove described is toreiievethe work andi; e needles, and te gire vthe'oimratitre .parte an easier actiouthan could be obtained. `by asudden and abrupt rise, and to relieve and equalizethe action of' the siidee andv thev needles preparatory to the second, rise, which ing to the size oi thewett-th read to be inciosed .and bound by such loops, or the nature ofthe fabric "being formed, Chong and slack loops produce open and light-weighted fabric, and' short close loopsproduee thicker and more Y weighty fabric, eroe withV theisaine wei-tor tilting.; p i

rise of the slides and the needles brings the latter into the range of and into actuating or dividing contact with the dividm ing-wheels.

' The thirdandv last rise yof theslides and needles lhas been measurably explained above, and it will be understood that the alternate outside of the weft-thread and a oveit, so

that when they leave the dividing-wheels and.y resume theirp'osition inline with theothers, they shall inclose the wett-thread between them: This nal rise alsoarries the latches of all the needles upweujdv thrbugh the oldloops, and leavesthe latter in positioutoclose the latches when the needles recede.

It will be observed that the inner eye 9 of the weft-thread guide is arranged below the tops ofthe fully-raised needles, and about you a line wither opposite the heads of those partially raised. 4 the'weft-thrcad to, between the divided and risingneedles, which rise at each 'side of the weft-thread,.and carry their `hooks above it when they are fully raised. Bythese means, and by means of the press-l erwhecls, unaided` by any other kdevice,,the weft-threads are fully introduced between the needles,`and cannot escape therefrom,

`The cam A5 is adjusted by a-scre\v-rod, g, and n'ut f3, thelatter being turned en the former beneath an ear, f4, projectingtrom the side of the cam-cylinder. The rod is scoured tothe earff of thecam A, and the rod and cam are held up by a spiral spring,'l, between the earf, and a pin through thenpperend of therod.` j Y A springcatch, c", attached to the can cylinder, engages with the serrated or milled edge ofthe nutf, and pre'v'entsv itbeing turned by accident. The spools orbobbns ,is14 of yarn are placed on spindles rising from acreel or stand, C, the yarns passed upward and. over or through guides c", thence downward to and thronghthe guides A and B to the needles; and in order/to continue the wett thread-knitting process, orto keep the machine continually operating andavod frequenter oc- This insures the line of draft of' for removnl with common pliers or pinchers.

casional stopping to knot or join the yarn or threads, I employ two or more spools, B and B15, or sets ol' spools, one above another, as shown in Fig. Thel first end b7 of the yarn, which, in the common process of spooling, is concenled und covered by the body of yarn, is left out, whereit ineybe teken up and joined to the leading end ba of another. The lower spool B, or e. set or series of such spools of yarn, may be placed on spindles arranged bclow the bed-plate B2, or set upon the floor around the machine. The leading ends b8 of ynrn` from euch ofthe upper spools B leed over suspended guides ci, like those above described, and from these to the guides A and B and the needles.

This method of employing spools of yarn, and of ina-king the yarn continuous from two or morespools, is of considerable importance, as it lcssens the liability'of the yarn running out,-.ind thc consequent prcssing'oi of the work from thencodles, which is not uncommon in the ordinary method where lthe yarn on one spool is not connected with that of lAnother.

At some convenient place in the cum-cylinderhi provide n gntetorremovingnnd replnc ing slides with broken or injured needles, und this gute or passage is formed from the top ol' the cylinderdown to the ouin-groove which contains the butts n', und it opens into the spzneep next to the outer edges of the slides, and convenient for the removal and replacing of any slide in the series. When the slides and the needles ure in operation this gate is closed by e. round hey, J', which lits und fills the gate, und forms a whole or unbroken inner surface to the cylinder. This gute' and key are of some utility und great convenience, ensily and cheaply mede without nmterially weakening or injuring the cylinder, and cnpa ble ot' use without disturbing any other part of the'lnachine. The notch or opening t in front ofthe key renders the latter easily accessible The incline und lor-.ver end g1 of the com A5 should lie-hardened or tempered to :nuke the butt-s work easier beneath it by causing less friction, and to increase its durability. t The bed-pluie B2 has n depending hub, C, l which is bored to receive the shell E5 of the I inner cylinder.1 which rotates within the hub, E and is shouldered on the iop ofthe hed-plete. i This shell is generally of enst-iron, the outer ring Eia of brass, and the upper ring El of| tough metnlm-sey good, tough iron-und all iltted and grooved to receive the slides iu the l seine manner ns in inost circular-knitting lnnohines.- Both of the rings E sn'd E are shrunk onto the cust-iron shell portion by the coinino`n process, The lower end of the shell E5 extends below the lower end of the hub U3, and s. gear, F, is fitted end fustened to it. A similergeer, F, iis-fitted and fastened to e crossl shet, K, arranged to rotate in the hub or hos L of e hunger, O, depending from the bedplate. 'The gear F is shown in section in Fig. 4, in elevation in Fig. 5, and in perspective in Fig. 12. The gear F is shownin Fig. 5 and partially in Fig. 12. The hanger is shown mostly in dotted lines beck of the leg M in Fig. 12. On the outer end of the shaft K is a. wheel or pulley, N, for operating the machine. Ears P depend from the under side ci' the geur F, end the space between each pair of eersis for the receptiouf eachtop end g3 of the flier, which is otherwise held in position byk straps g, extending across the edges of the ears and beck on [their outer sides, where they are fastened by screws 4. The hier is shown in Fig. l2 with all the other parts connected, Iend larger elevations in Figs. 5 and 6-the upper and central portion in the former, and the lower portion in the letter. The flier conteins the stretcher-rods E6 and the cloth roll or shaft A6. The letter is shown in section in Fig. 5b.' 0n one side of the dier I arrange su pporting-stuuds S, und through them a. vertical shaft, Al, lo the lower end of which I apply e conical pulley, T, with its largest end` upward. 0n the cross-stays C* l secure a larger conical pulley, U, with its smaller end upward and directly under the center'of the operstinghcnd' and the rotary movers. Theperipheries of these trio conical pulleys come in Contact, and the smaller isv rotated by revolving around the larger und stationary one, being carried by the revolving Hier. This hier is supported by e central rod, S1, shouldered to the under side of the lon-er end S, und secured by n. screw-nut, E, as shown. The rod passes loosely through the center of the fixed cone U to the topot a. lever, V, which is pivoted between ears F4, depending from one of the cross-stays.

To the opposite end ot lthis lever 1 hang s weight, W, to partly balance the flier". Un the upper end of the shaft A is a- Worm, Y, and on the end of the clothroll e wormgeer, Z. The worm engages with the gear und turns it to wind up the cloth as it comes down from the operating-head, and as the ilier revolves. TheI flier receives motion from' the rotating gear F and the ears P. The smaller cone receives motion from the lnrger one, und this operates the shaft A7 und the worin, and, through these, the wormgear und theclothroll, to wind or take up rthe cloth as fast as it is formed.

This take-np or racking-up motion or process is ell-important, and' the appara-tus I have shown is very effective in the production of the desired result, operating es follows: When the roll of cloth begins to form the weight W should be hung near the center of the lever, so that nearly-the whole weight ot the hier shall be sustained by the cloth, which, forming and `"coming down fashnllows-.the hier to seg or settle, end keep the cones constantly in contact, and the smeller one rotating and 

